Sgt. Jeremiah Workman
Navy Cross, via the Adventures of Chester
For extraordinary heroism while serving as Squad Leader, Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, US Marine Corps Forces, Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 23 December 2004.
During clearing operations in Al Fallujah, Iraq, Corporal Workman displayed exceptional situational awareness while organizing his squad to enter a building to retrieve isolated Marines inside. Despite heavy resistance from enemy automatic weapon fire, and a barrage of grenades, Corporal Workman fearlessly exposed himself and laid down a base of fire that allowed the isolated Marines to escape.
Outside the house, he rallied the rescued Marines and directed fire onto insurgent positions as he aided wounded Marines in a neighboring yard. After seeing these Marines to safety, he led another assault force into the building to eliminate insurgents and extract more Marines.
Corporal Workman again exposed himself to enemy fire while providing cover fire for the team when an enemy grenade exploded directly in front of him causing shrapnel wounds to his arms and legs. Corporal Workman continued to provide intense fire long enough to recover additional wounded Marines and extract them from the besieged building.
Although injured, he led a third assault into the building, rallying his team one last time to extract isolated Marines before M1A1 tanks arrived to support the battle.
Throughout this fight, Corporal Workman’s heroic actions contributed to the elimination of 24 insurgents.
By his bold leadership, wise judgment and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Workman reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
A drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., was awarded the nation’s second highest award for combat heroism during a ceremony held at the depot today, according to a Marine Corps release.
Sgt. Jeremiah Workman of the depot’s Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, received the Navy Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor, for his performance under fire in Iraq while serving as a squad leader in the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, according to the release.
“Workman’s heroism … adds to the luster that surrounds the 5th Marine Regiment, which stands as the most highly decorated regiment in the Marine Corps,†the release said.
With Workman’s award, the depot now boasts two drill instructors currently wearing the Navy Cross. Sgt. Anthony Viggiani, a drill instructor assigned to the depot’s India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, was awarded the medal there on Feb. 24 for his actions in Afghanistan as a squad leader assigned to the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.
